Wendy: Every Witch Way

Written by Matt Swider  on October 08, 2001

Second Opinion: An upside down game, with an upside down name.

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Many people consider the Game Boy Color more than dead now that Game Boy Advance has arrived, yet titles still release primarily for the Color format. However, the fact remains that a majority of gamers have moved onto the brand new Advance system, so it's quite hard for any title to become noticed at this stage of the game. And, while Wendy: Every Witch Way is placed in a platform genre, the reality of it is that it's not your ordinary straightforward type Mario clone. It's developer, WayForward, has included a twist that makes a world of difference in how the game plays; altering gravity. So, not only does the name sound clever, but the entire premises for the Wendy: EWW's gameplay is pure genius.

The story of Wendy: Every Witch Way begins following an accident that reversed gravity, and our main character, must travel to Moon Stone Castle attempting set everything straight by recovering four little Moon Stones, using her magic wand and powers of gravity-reversal. As the gravity changes throughout the game, Wendy will have to avoid being hit by objects that are either falling to the ground, or floating to the ceiling. After completing the standard levels and flying through the bonus stages, she'll head off to the last battle with the evil Warlock of Moon Stone Castle. This is the final boss of the game, where Wendy will find herself in a tough fight of magical moonstone missiles.

For those Game Boy Advance radicals who are seeking for some extra advantages, look no further. Similar to the hidden dungeons of Zelda DX found when played in a Game Boy Color unit rather than on the original Game Boy, Wendy: EWW features psychedelic looking levels exclusive to GBA entitled Advance Levels. Though missing out on these levels won't ruin the game experience, as it's simply an incentive for Advance owner to make the purchase, it furthers the value and lengthens the playtime.

The game design in whole is simple, and at the same time totally effective. Most instances call for players to solve puzzle like situations in order to progress through the levels using the technique of controlling gravity. As mentioned before, gravity is of key importance, and it's not only used to proceed through each maze in a stage, but also to defeat certain enemies. Although slugs are able to cling to their surface, other enemies with much more resistance can only be defeated when the they smack into the opposite ground base, becoming stunned and open to elimination.

Colors in the game remain limited, creating an effective pattern with constant shades appearing throughout each level. Though these visuals along with its simple game design, and the fact that Wendy was taken an animated television series and comic book may come off as a bit childish, it's sure to appeal to every age bracket out there once a play sits down with the game.

Besides featuring the three Advance Levels, both Game Boy units are also able to access three additional bonus stages that pit Wendy on her broom in a flying about collecting stars and dodging enemies. While the twelve stages are quite simple and will take little time to complete, the title does offer a Hard setting placing more enemies within each stage. This may be the one downfall that can be found in Wendy: EWW, as little challenge can be found for gamers who are anything but children.